Man had ‘secret information’ about summonses - Courts - Carlow Nationalist

Man had ‘secret information’ about summonses - Courts - Carlow Nationalist

A TULLOW resident who told a judge he had a document containing “secret information” about court summonses appeared before Carlow District Court after being arrested that morning on a public order matter. Mecislavs Obrazcovs (70), 25 Shraughaun Close, Tullow was charged under section 4 of the Public Order Act with being intoxicated in a public place in Tullow on 10 February 2024.

Speaking through a Russian interpreter, Mr Obrazcovs held a letter up in front of the court and said: “This is the reason why you should know.”

“Is this the text that he sent to Mr O’Sullivan asking to represent him?” asked Judge Carthy, who was told that it was.

“I will give you personally a document with secret information [he possibly meant ‘confidential information’] about the summons to the court that have not been sent to me,” said Mr Obrazcovs. “The solicitor can make a call to me – when he needed, he ring. When gardaí needed, they arrive to my address, show me summons, I sign it, three months for me. They can ring me and I can wait.”

Judge Carthy explained that a separate matter existed in relation to the defendant: “There was a matter in the higher court, a district court appeal. With this appeal, it has committed this man to four months in custody, for which this warrant is about to be executed. That’s in a higher court, not this court.

“The matter before me is a section 4 public order. The alleged date is 10 February 2024 in Tullow, Carlow. If he wishes, he can plead guilty or not guilty,” she said.

Mr Obrazcovs addressed the judge: “I just wanted to know why I wasn’t detained as usual and didn’t get given any paperwork or write down anything.”

Judge Carthy replied that this was because he had been summoned and served personally on 23 November 2025.

“Personally, me, I did not receive … summons and letters were arriving to my neighbours and they were bringing it to me,” said the defendant. “In Kilkenny court, the solicitor write down for me. I have the letter at home. Nothing to fear, you can go and stay in jail, he said.”

“It’s personal service. There’s no signature,” said the judge, to which the defendant replied: “I always sign.”

The arresting garda said he had no objection to bail due to the fact that the charge carried only a fine.

Mr Obrazcovs was remanded on bail on his own bond of €500 to appear before the court again the following week.